The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-01-07
THE HOUSE.
iourned.

Improvement of the Erie CanaI-Passa:e of
the Pension Appropriation Bill.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 6-During the morning
hour the House resumed, committee OF the
whoe-Mr. Crisp, of Georgia, in the chair-con-
sheraton of the bill for the permanent improve
ment of the Erie and Osweeo canals and to secure
the freedom of the same to the commerce of the
United States.
Mr.. Randall, Of Pennsylvania, suggested that
an early vote should be taken on the measure.
1t was not likely to pass, and it would be we'll
to allow some other proposition to obtain the
floor.
Mr. Weaver, OF Iowa. seconded this sug
eestiop, remarking that the bill would fail IN
less Hennepin canal appropriation was at
tached to it.
Mr.. Weber, of New York, concluded his areu-
ment in support of the measure, urging that, in a
commercial point of view, the canals were ma
tional in their character, and declaring that
the fate OF these great waterways to the east
ern seaports was in the hands of Congress.
Mr.. Anderson. of Kansas, heartily favored the
objects designed to be accomplished by the bill
The people of the State Of Kansas had greater
interest in the attainment of those objects than
the people of the State Of New York. The Erie
canal stood as balance on the rapacity of the
| great trunk lines Of railroads. and it would be
worth $l00 G00, 600 to those roads II they could
| wine out that canal 1t was to the interest of
the producers OF the country that, instead of be-
ing wiped out. the canal should be enlarged, as
| proposed by the bill
Mr. Murphy of Iowa, said as he was in favor
of the construction of the Hennepin canal. SO
was he in favor Of the enlargement of the Erie
| canal. OF of any other measure which would give
| the Western producer cheap water transporta
| ton to the Eastern markets. 1t was this Ques
| tion of cheap transportation which had led to
| the drafting of the interstate commerce bill,
now under consideration, and whose purpose was
to give the producer of the West and the con
sumner of the East little relief from the bur
dens imposed upon them by railroad rapacity.
Mr.. Nelson, of Minnesota, commended that nc
method of solving the cheap transportation
question could be more e-fcacious than that Of
enlarging ard improving the canals
Mr.. Plumb, of Illincis, advocated the passage
Of ths bill, regarding II as the most impor.an
one which had been brought to the attention O
the present Congress-
The morning hour having expired, the com
| mittee rose and the bill resumed it's place upor
the calendar.
The House then went into committe of tn,
| whole-Mr Springer, of Illinois. in the chair
on the peneon appropriation hill. which aprro
pirates SIC, 247 500, being only $50 oG1 below tn
estimates-the reduction being Ia the Item 70
rent of Offices for pension agencies. Withou
ameEsMSnt or discussion, the bill was read, re
+ ported to the House, and passed
The House then-yeas 1873, nays 77-wen
into committee of the whole-Mr Springer. o
Illinois, in the chair-oE the naval organization
bill A brief debate followed, pending which
the committee rose.
Mr.. Henderson, of Iowa. introduced bill
authorizing the construction of bridge acros
the Mississippi river at Dubuque, Ia Referred
The House then adjourned